Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida made a solemn peace pledge on the 79th anniversary of Japan's defeat in World War II, emphasizing Japan's commitment to never repeat the tragedy of war. Speaking at a ceremony at the Budokan hall, Kishida reiterated Japan's postwar pacifist resolve and pledged to defend the rules-based international order.
Kishida acknowledged the devastating impact of the war, including the loss of over 3 million Japanese lives, destruction from ground battles in Okinawa, fire-bombings across Japan, and the atomic bombings of Nagasaki and Hiroshima. However, he did not address or apologize for Japan's aggression in Asia or the millions of lives lost there.
Notably, Kishida's omission of Japanese wartime atrocities follows a precedent set by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2013, a move criticized as whitewashing history. On the same day, three of Kishida's ministers, including Defense Minister Minoru Kihara, visited the controversial Yasukuni Shrine, which is viewed by Japan's Asian neighbors as a symbol of militarism.
The Yasukuni Shrine honors convicted war criminals among the war dead, and visits by Japanese officials are seen as lacking remorse by victims of Japanese aggression, particularly China and the Koreas. While Kihara prayed at the shrine, Kishida refrained from doing so and instead sent a religious ornament.
Emperor Naruhito, who also attended the ceremony, expressed 'deep remorse' over Japan's wartime actions fought in the name of his grandfather, Emperor Hirohito. Kishida's tenure has seen an acceleration of Japan's military buildup and spending, as the country strengthens military cooperation with the United States and Indo-Pacific partners in response to increasing threats from China and North Korea.
Kishida, who assumed office in 2021, announced his intention to step down after the governing party leadership vote in September, marking the end of his term as Prime Minister.
